two seat Trike

[Gordon]

So,....I friend of mine had a 2 seat Trike given to him. The thing is real hard to pedal. He knew I had put together a ebike so he called me. Don't know if I really want to get into this project or not. Looks just like this websites picture.
http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/sbst.html

He doesn't need much speed from it but needs a lot of torque to just get the beast moving. I am thinking about a small, geared hub motor.

Two sets of cranks and chains connected to 2 freewheeling , flange less, coaster brake bicycle hubs.

If I remove the spoke flanges from a motor it would fit just fine to replace one of the two bike hubs.
I would need to have a single sprocket with freewheel on the left side and another sprocket mounted on the right where a brake disk would be mounted.

Of course only one of the riders would have power.

Any advice ?

 

[dogman dan]

Front hub it. Either a gearmotor, or if you go direct drive, then a slow winding count one. 4011 clyte or such.

 

[docnjoj]

Roger that to a front hub. Worksman makes STEEL trikes so you know that front fork can take the torque. Definitely torque arms on both sides just to make sure. Also they list 2 electric choices including a WE which must be a front hub. The Heinzman prolly is also.
otherDoc

 

[John_Kelly]

My trike is pretty heavy since I used car wheels and haul my kayak with it. I purchased a Performer front kit from ev-universe.com It hauls the trike really well, with just a slight pedal start up on hills. On flats, it pulls right from the start. As a great side benefit, Don is top notch when it comes to customer service.

I hope to have some video soon.

John

 

[Gordon]

I agree that a front motor would be the simpler solution.

If i build it is going to be used a summer camp. Needs to be safe and slow. Top speed about 12 mph with no tire smoking starts.

They will never go for the price of an Ezee or BMC kit. Are there any good options ?
Range is not a issue so I will be using SLAs for both cost and simplicity.

 

[dogman dan]

Don't know what continent you are on, but if NA see if there is any chance there is a 9 continent 6x10 left at E-bikekit. Mabye you could get a front hub still in any rim, and respoke it to what you need. 15 mph top speed at 36v. Perfect. If not, then try to find a clyte 4011.

If all else fails, then get any direct drive motor, and get a controller with a three speed switch, or just use the Ebike kit with the euro speed supressor jumper connected. That will limit the motor to much slower speeds.

If World Wide Electric bikes has any kits left, one of thier Fusin 36v motors would be perfect. Just don't get the battery in that kit.

The Fusin has decent tourqe at low watts like all gearmotors, but it has a speed suppressor loop, AND a three speed switch. I really liked mine at the low speed for riding in a crowd, like at the flea market.

Edit, They have em, $435 for the kit without battery. Too high, get an Ebikekit 9x7 and just use the supressor loop if they cant still get you a 6x10 front hub.

 

[Drunkskunk]

It would probably need some reworking, but 2 cyclones, one per rear wheel, and using a couple of deep cycle marine lead acid batteries would probably turn that into an all day golf cart alternitive.

I think a front motor would work fine for 1 person, but 2 people, plus batteries, plus a hill, and a front hub motor might just sit and spin. Not realy dangerous, just not really effective either.

 

[docnjoj]

DrunkS has a very good point about hill climbing. Since Worksman uses and offers front hub motors, maybe email and ask about climbing ability with a full load. Certainly that Heinzman that they offer has plenty of torque for a hill. A Cute (the big one) might work and be at a reasonable price point.
otherDoc

 

[Gordon]

Thanks for the tips.

 

[dogman dan]

Yeah, two people up a steep hill would be tough with front hub. An underpowered motor wouldn't spin, or do anything. Overpowered, the wheel would spin getting started, and then dig in.

 

[Gordon]

I am going to get out of this project. The riders are setting right over the rear axle with not much weight on the front wheel.

I don't even have the time to get my own bike put back together.